Why Contrast Matters: A Guide to Web Accessibility
ZillyTools Team
Light gray text on a white background might look sleek and minimalist on your retina display, but to a user with visual impairments—or just someone reading on their phone in the sun—it's completely invisible.
Accessibility is Not an Edge Case
According to the WHO, over 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. Designing accessible websites isn't just a legal requirement in many countries; it's a moral imperative and a smart business decision.
Understanding WCAG Contrast Ratios
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) dictate how much contrast must exist between text and its background.
- AA Standard: Requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
- AAA Standard: Requires a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.
How to Check Your Contrast
You shouldn't guess if your colors have enough contrast. Use a tool like Zilly Color Picker to grab the exact HEX codes of your foreground and background, and run them through a contrast checker.
"Good design is accessible design. If a user has to squint to read your pricing page, they will just leave."
Common Contrast Mistakes
- Text over images: An image might look dark enough, but what happens if the image fails to load, or if it scales differently on mobile? Always use a dark overlay or text shadow.
- Disabled buttons: Designers love making disabled buttons light gray. Ensure they still have enough contrast to be identifiable as buttons.
- Placeholder text: Form placeholders are notoriously low-contrast. Make sure your input fields are clearly defined.
Conclusion
Stop sacrificing readability for aesthetics. High contrast design is clean, bold, and inclusive. Check your colors today.
